Account Requirements

What is the Account Panel?

The Account Panel is a step in the booking flow where patients can:

Create a new account - Register with email and password
Log in - Use existing credentials
Skip - Continue as a guest (if allowed)

Account Panel Settings

Setting	Location	Effect
Show Account Panel	Settings dropdown	On/Off toggle

When Disabled (Default)

Patients book as guests
No login step appears
Patient info collected later in the flow
Simplest, fastest booking experience

When Enabled

Account step appears in booking flow
Patients see three options:
- Create Account
- Log In
- Skip (book as guest)
Logged-in patients can see their booking history

Smart Step Skipping

The system automatically optimizes the flow:

Scenario	Behavior
Account panel disabled	Step skipped entirely
Already logged in	Account step skipped
SmartForms required	Account step forced, Skip hidden

SmartForms Override

When a service has intake forms (SmartForms) attached:

Without SmartForms	With SmartForms
Account panel follows your setting	Account panel forced on
Skip option available	Skip option hidden
Guest booking allowed	Login required

Why This Override Exists

SmartForms need to be assigned to a user account:

Forms track patient responses
Patients access forms in the patient portal
Account links forms to the correct person

Patient Message

When account is required for forms, patients see:

“This service requires you to create an account so we can send you intake forms to complete before your appointment.”

Enabling Account Requirements

Step-by-Step

Log in with administrator permissions
Click Settings (gear icon)
Find Account Panel or Show Account Panel
Toggle On
Setting saves automatically

Benefits of Requiring Accounts

For Your Practice

Patient contact information on file
Enable patient portal access
Track booking history per patient
Required for SmartForms delivery
Better patient communication

For Patients

Faster future bookings
Saved information
Appointment history
Portal access for forms and records

Guest Booking (When Disabled)

Without account requirements:

How It Works

Patient provides info during booking
System checks for existing patient record
New record created if needed
Booking completes without login

When to Allow Guest Booking

Maximize booking conversion
Reduce friction for new patients
When SmartForms aren’t needed
For simple appointment types

Patient Flow Comparison

Guest Booking Flow (Account Off)

Select Service
Choose Time
Enter Patient Information
Answer Questions (if enabled)
Review & Confirm
Success

Account Required Flow (Account On)

Select Service
Choose Time
Create Account / Log In ← Additional step
Enter Patient Information
Answer Questions (if enabled)
Review & Confirm
Success

When the account panel is shown:

Create Account

First name, last name
Email address
Password (with confirmation)
Automatically logged in after creation

Log In

Email address
Password
Remembers session for return visits

Skip (Guest)

Continue without account
Must provide info later
Not available when SmartForms required

Best Practices

Balancing Conversion and Data

Priority	Recommendation
Maximum bookings	Keep account panel off
Patient relationships	Consider enabling for returning patients
SmartForms workflow	Required - cannot disable

When to Enable

When using SmartForms
When building patient portal adoption
When patient history matters
For practices with repeat visits

When to Disable

New patient acquisition focus
Simple, one-time services
When minimizing friction is key

Troubleshooting

Account Panel Not Appearing

Verify setting is enabled
Patient may already be logged in (step is skipped)
Refresh the page

Skip Option Not Available

Service may have SmartForms attached
Check the service’s form assignments

Patient Can’t Log In

Verify account exists
Check password reset option
Ensure correct email address

Account Creation Fails

Email may already be in use
Password requirements not met
Check for validation errors

Next Steps

Questionnaire Setup - Pre-booking questions
SmartForms - Intake form integration